Chapter 5: Battle
The hobgoblin's roar was still echoing through the room when a tide of goblins swept over the awakened. A savage wave, a chaos of shrill cries and rusty blades. The well-trained Awakened were not immediately overwhelmed. Daryl was the first to react.
- Hold your formation!" he shouted, his sword slicing through a goblin in one clean stroke.
Grant, to his left, parried a clumsily-wielded spear and thrust his dagger down his attacker's throat. The rest of the awakened scattered in a murderous dance where every move was a struggle for survival. The goblins, though individually weak, made up for their lack of power with sheer numbers and bestial aggression.
Isaac, who had stayed behind, watched wide-eyed. His role was to carry equipment and help out if needed, but he saw an opportunity. He clutched his rudimentary knife, his heart beating wildly. A wounded goblin was trying to crawl out of the fight. His weapon was gone, his right arm hanging limply, sliced clean off. Isaac swallowed hard and stepped forward, trying to calm the trembling of his hands.
In one swift movement, he thrust his blade into the back of the monster's neck. The goblin flinched before collapsing with a strangled gurgle. A familiar interface appeared before him:
[Possible absorption:]
[1 Absorption of physical stats]
[2. absorption of physical skills]
He hesitated for a moment and chose physical statistics. An intense burn invaded his muscles, his body instantly adapting to the new strength he had just gained. His legs felt firmer, his arms slightly more powerful. He clenched his fist and felt the difference: a slight gain in raw power.
[Strength: 7 --> 9]
He stepped back slightly and observed the battlefield. The awakened were still fighting, but the constant stream of goblins was beginning to tire them. Grant parried a sledgehammer blow but stepped back, out of breath. Daryl dodged an attack and counter-attacked, but his arm already bore a deep gash.